Volvo Concept Coupe unveiled

It's sexy Volvo time: the new Volvo Concept Coupé

By Tim Kendall | 29th August 2013

“Just like an exclusive goose down jacket, our cars will have a true feeling of sophistication with an underlying strength and capability”

said Volvo’s new Senior Vice President of Design, Thomas Ingenlath, seemingly with a straight face. But there’s serious news here – this is a sexy new Volvo concept car which has been built to signpost the Swedish firm’s future design direction. So have a look on’t.

The new Volvo Concept Coupe will be unveiled at Frankfurt

Rather nice, isn’t it? There are deliberate echoes of the iconic P1800 Coupé of the ’60s, particularly towards the rear haunches although the broad, sleek shape stops short of being a retro facsimile.

What’s the point of the Volvo Concept Coupé?

Volvo says the new Concept Coupé is the first in a series of three concept cars which reveal the design possibilities created by the Company’s new ‘Scalable Product Architecture’ (‘SPA’) platform. Read between the lines and Volvo’s pen-wielders are revelling in the freedom to unleash years of pent-up Swedishness and ‘calm, confident beauty’ on the Volvo range, in a way that wasn’t possible back in the dark days of Ford’s Premier Auto Group. Inglenook explains:

“The new architecture enables us to create the great proportions that are important to achieve a premium look. The dash to axle ratio is more generous than any other architecture I have worked with before. This gives us the opportunity to be up there among the top premium brands when it comes to proportions.”

“The hip point is another example of the new opportunities. It is low enough to create a low profile on a sleek sedan without compromising headroom.”

The Volvo Concept Coupe showcases design cues for the new XC90

It’s just a concept car then?

Yes, but it reveals some of Volvo’s future design cues which will appear on production cars. For example, those T-shaped daytime running lights and the distinctive front grille will make it into showrooms, although the details may be fine-tuned before the new XC90 arrives, admits Ingenlath.

New T-shaped DRLs will appear on future Volvos

The Concept Coupé also reflects future Volvo powertrain strategy – which is to use electrification for the most powerful versions of its new four-cylinder Drive-E engine line-up. Under the nose of the concept sits a two-litre turbo and super charged petrol engine sending power to the front wheels, with an electric motor sat over the back axle sending power to the rear wheels. Combined power output for the plug-in hybrid is said to be 395hp.

And expect more sexy Volvos in the future – the press release was littered with references to future car design at the Swedish brand being much more ’emotional’.